What is the Ofgem energy price cap?
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In short: From 1 July 2026 the Ofgem cap on default tariffs rises about 13% on unit rates — roughly £18 a month for a typical dual-fuel home paying by direct debit. The headline 'typical bill' is around £1,663–£1,862 a year depending on which consumption benchmark Ofgem uses.
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Ofgem's energy price cap limits the unit rates and standing charges that suppliers can charge customers on their default (standard variable) tariff. It is updated every three months.
For 1 July to 30 September 2026, cap rates rise about 13% compared with the April–June quarter, driven by wholesale gas prices in the February–May assessment period. Using the previous typical-use figures, the annualised cap level is about £1,862 for a dual-fuel direct-debit household; from 1 July Ofgem also uses lower typical consumption figures, producing a headline of around £1,663 — the underlying rate rise is still 13%.
The headline figure is an illustration, not a maximum bill. What you actually pay depends on your unit usage, region and meter type. Fixed tariffs are not affected by the cap until your deal ends; fixes track wholesale markets and may beat the cap if you switch before 1 July.
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